Outback suspension on a LGT

[goodnight1985]

I am looking into potential suspension options for my 97 LGT. I am preparing the car for rally cross and I was looking into raising the car a little.

So far, I have come up with Outback suspension, which will raise the car about 1.5". It also appears to have more travel. Will this height increase put too much strain on the axles, steering or other suspensions components?

I know that Outbacks differ from Legacys not only in the struts and springs, but as well as multiple spacers located throughout the subframes and drivetrain. Will these parts be necessary if Outback suspension is used?

My other option was a set spacers (between the tops of the struts and the body). Paranoid fabrications makes a few different thicknesses ranging from somewhere around 1/4" to 1". Would this be a better option than the Outback suspension?

Any info would be helpful.

[DarkPhoenix]

To be honest, the lift that the OB suspension will give you, would be the most I would put in with out doing a proper Outback lift. I think anything over a 2" lift, you need to start adding spacers so it doesn't throw the drivetrain angles off.

You would probably be happier with the OB suspension than just adding spacers to the regular suspension.

[ouch1011]

You could look into using the OB struts on stock LGT or even WRX springs. That way you could have the increased suspension travel without lifting the car quite as much, and also have the slightly stiffer springs from the LGT or WRX.

But lifting the car at all will throw off your driveline and steering angles. Will it be enough to cause a problem? Maybe, you'll probably notice bump steer more than anything else in a rally-cross setting.

[caffeine]

I'm using SG forester struts with LGT front spring and forester springs in the front...And it works GREAT. It's just the right lift for me. I banner for some of the rallys around here and I have no issues with any drive line binding or anything. And according to Monroe the OB struts and the SG forester struts have almost the same compressed and max length. You will need to get some camber bolts tho. And here's a pic of how mine's sitting now...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2011/01/3388461667_038a4a90bd-1.jpg

Hope that helps

[superu]

I'd suggest OB struts, reuse your LGT springs, maybe OB sway bars (a little thicker than your LGTs) and call it good (plus camber kit on front struts).

all the spacers in OBs drop the driveline and adding those would decrease a bit of your overall ground clearance gain.
you don't need to drop the driveline until you're around 2" > than stock...
with OB struts alone you'll gain 1.5" ground clearance.. get some good tires and you'll be happy.